Economizer furnace for mineral wool production



Qct. 20,1931. E. R. POWELL 1,828,293

ECONOMIZER FURNACE FOR MINERAL WOOD PRODUCTION Filed Aug. 5, 1928INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS,

Esme/v0 R POWELL.

Patented Oct. 20, 1931 nnwniin 1a. rownnn' F i 313., INDIANA, ABSIGNOBT0 BANNER ROCK COR- PORATION, 0;! ALEXANDRIA; INDIANA, A; CORPORATION OFDELAWARE EOONQMIZEB FURNACE FOB HINERAL WOOL PRODUCTION Applicationfiled August 3, 1928. Serial No. 297,216.

This invention relates to the economical production of mineral wool andthe uniform production thereof.

The chief object of this invention is to provide a furnace for forming amolten stream of rock or the likewhich can be blasted into mineral wool,said stream having a more uniform and stable characteristic and beingformed in a more economical manner than to heretofore possible.

The chief feature of the invention consists in preheating the air, or aportion thereof, used for supporting combustion in the furnace byutilizing a portion of said furnace for such preheating. In this way ahigher temperature is obtained and one which may be readilypredetermined and controlled.

Another feature of the invention consists in the provision of means forstirring, poking or otherwise agitating the contents of the furnaceabove the melting point therein to prevent clogging and secure uniformmaterial flow through the furnace.

One feature of the invention whereby high temperatures are obtained(thereby providing for high silica wool production) is utilizing air forfurnace cooling instead of water since the latter is limited undersuitable pressure to about 215 degrees while air cooling can be run upto 1000 degrees without much difiiculty.

The invention accordingly comprises the elements and combinations ofelements, features of construction, and arrangements of parts which willbe exemplified in the structure hreinafter described, and the scope ofthe ap lication of which will be indicated in the fol owing claims.

The full nature of understood from the accompanying drawings and thefollowing description and claims:

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a Vertical central sectional view of theinvention. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken on the brokenline 22 of Fig. 1, and in the direction of the arrows.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout theseveral views of the drawings.

In the drawings 10 indicates a wall of a the invention will be' verticalretort or furnace suitable for the manufacture of mineral fiber,commonly known as mineral wool. The materials utilized in the furnaceare air for sup orting combustion, coke and rock or equiva entingredients for melting to form a satisfactory molten stream, whichsubsequently is changed to fiber by a steam or air blast. The stream 11discharges from the opening or tap hole 12 formed in the lower part ofthe furnace. The lower part of the furnace is water jacketed as at 13,and the water which cools the furnace at this point is utilized forforming the steam blast it discharged from nozzle or supply line 15.

In the present form of the invention the upper portion of the furnace isair jacketed as at 16 and extending into the same are a plurality ofradially arranged heat fins 17.

A fan 18 pumps cold air through conduit 19 to a header or bustle pipe 20which has a plurality of communications 21 with the upper end of the airchamber 16, a plurality and preferably a similar number of dischargepipes 22 lead from the lower end of said air chamber and discharge intoa lower heater or bustle pipe 22. A suitable number of pipes 23discharge therefrom directly into the lower part of the furnace as at24, and each discharge is controlled by a valve 25. If there is too muchheated air a waste or vent 26 c0ntrolled by valve 27 permits the excessto escape. To control the temperature of the air supplied through pipe24 it may be necessary to admit cold air, and said cold air is suppliedfrom a header or bustle pipe 28 which communicates with each of thepipes 23 as at 29 and each communication is controlled by a valve 30. I

With the foregoing mechanism the amount of air and the temperature ofthe same suplied to the furnace can be closely regulated.

urtherrnore thewaste heat of the furnace is utilized to preheat the air.

therefore the temperature of the stream 11 is important for obtainingthe maximum uniform production of good fiber. While the temperature. canbe controlled in this manner 5 to a certain extent, anotherfactorentering into the production of a uniform molten stream, or rather therate of roduction of said stream is the constant alling-of the materialthrou h the furnace toward the stream bed 31. o insure a substantiallyconstant rate of flow of the ingredients a mechanism is provided forpreventing dragging or 'amming with resultant intermittent flow annonumformity on the stream. Furthermore the use of higher temperaturesrmits the fusion of more stable and more re actory material compositionssuch as high silica wool.

The furnace at a short distance above the stream bed is. provided withopenings 32 which extend through the wall and through the 'acket chambersurrounding said wall and erein each opening 32 is shown extendingthrough the water jacket. Pivotally supported at 33 on bracket 34carried by the furnace is a lever 35 which has an angular arm 36ofarcuate outline COIIOQIltliC'Wlth pivot 33. Arm 36 is oscillated aboutpivot 33 and reciprocates in and out of passage 32. A suitable number ofthese kers for pokin the ingredients in the irnace is provi ed, andherein mechanism is also provided for mechanically actuating the sameand preferably in successive relation.

The lever has an extension 37 which serves as a cam and also as a springretainer for spring 38. Normally spring 38 tends to project the arm 36into the furnace. Eu-

gagement of the cam 37 by the roller 39,

carried by bracket 40 in turn adjustably ring tilts the lever 35 towithdraw the arm '36 'm opposition to spring 38. When the roller 39 'pwe: over and beyond lever 87 the of spacingbetween the lever contacts 37so that no other poker arm will be actuatedwhile another oneis beingactuated and the followers and connection, maybe so positioned relativeto each other that they are progressively actuated about the circumfe ronce of the furnace; The carrier'ring mounted on ring 41, in therotation of said spring 38 becomes. effective and the arm is m gn 41 fmay be suitably mounted for relatively anticarried by shaft 44 driven byasuitable power unit 45. Any other suitable power unit from that shownmay be substituted.

In view of the above, it will be seen thathe several objects of theinvention are achieved and other advantageous results attained,

As many changes could be made in carrying out the above constructionswithout departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended thatall matter contained in the above description or shown in theaccompanying drawings shall be interpreted as ilustrative and not in alimiting sense.

The invention claimed is:

1. In a furnace for the production of mineral fibre, the combination ofa retorting chamber, means intermittently projectable into said chamberfor agitating the charge therein, said means comprising an agitatingarm, means normally constraining said arm for oscillation in onedirection, and other means for intermittently acuating said arm formovement in the o posite direction.

2. In a furnace for &e production of mineral fiber, the combination' ofa retorting chamber, and means intermittently projectable into the saidchamber for agitating the charge therein, said means comprising aplurality of devices each including an agitating arm, means normallyconstraining said arm for oscillation in one direction, and other meansfor intermittently actuating said arm for movement in the oppositedirection.

3. In a furnace for the production of mineral fiber, the combination .ofa retorting chamber, a plurality of means intermittently projectableinto said chamber for agitatthe char therein, a plurality of movab 0means or reciprocating said intermittently projectable means and acommon driven member adaptedto move said plurality of means.- I

4. In a furnace for the production of mineral fiber, the combination ofa retorting chamber having cooledpassages thereto, a plurality. of meansintermittently movable mto said chamber for agitating the chargetherein, said means being pro ectable into said'chamber through saidcooled passages and comprising arms and means no for operating saiagitating arms, and a common driven member for last-named operati means.

In witness whereo I have hereuntb afiixed carrying said EDWARD R.POWELL.

